Compositions, systems and methods for separating ethanol from water and methods of making compositions for separating ethanol from water

Abstract

Silicalite particles, methods of making silicalite particles, systems comprising silicalite particles and methods for using silicalite particles to separate ethanol from water.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A silicalite particle having a mean height of about 0.2 microns to about 10 microns, mesopore pore volume of less than about 0.0025 cm 3  per gram, and water uptake of about 0.20 mmol per gram or less at an activity (p/p*) of 0.98 and 35° C. 
     
     
       2. The silicalite particle of  claim 1  further having a MFI structure and a mean aspect ratio of about 5 to about 14. 
     
     
       3. The silicalite particle of  claim 2  further having selectivity for ethanol over water of about 190 at an ethanol mole fraction of about 0.2 in a vapor-phase ethanol/water mixture.